'Vietnam in HD' takes a detailed look at war

Tuesday through Thursday, Nov. 8-10, History premieres "Vietnam in HD," a six-hour documentary miniseries featuring rare and restored footage of the conflict, much of it captured by soldiers in the field.

One is Arthur Wiknik, who was 18 when he was drafted in April 1968 and wound up in one of the war's most notorious battles, the 10-day assault on Hamburger Hill.

Although he didn't volunteer, Wiknik nevertheless learned from the experience.

"There are just a lot of people who maybe don't realize how well they have it here," he says, "haven't gone overseas and seen how people live -- grass huts, open sewers and things like that. We have a great country. People don't realize how lucky they are to be here.

"I didn't want to go, but I am so proud to have served. I'm so proud of what I accomplished while I was there. I did nothing to be ashamed of, and I'm just ... glad for the experience."

He's even seen the 1987 film version of "Hamburger Hill."

"I was there," he says, "and every time I see that movie, I get emotionally caught up in it, just as I am now."

War correspondent Joe Galloway agrees with Wiknik about "Hamburger Hill," saying, "I walked out on most Vietnam movies, with the exception of 'Hamburger Hill.' I knew the colonel who was the senior technical adviser, and he really held their feet to the fire and made them do a much better movie than they might otherwise have done with that."

He also approved of the 2002 movie of his book, "We Were Soldiers," saying, "It was 75 percent reality based on our book, 25 percent Hollywood BS, and that's the reverse of normal for those guys."